RUSA successfully serves student community

Letter

I would first like to thank the author of yesterday’s letter to
The Daily Targum, “Student government needs to establish real
purpose.” Although the information is not found in our mission
statement, the Rutgers University Student Assembly always wants to
hear student concerns, by any means and in any form, to better
improve our standing with the student body. This is one reason why
we have a public sector portion of our open meetings every other
Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Activities Center on the
College Avenue campus. That being said, I would like to personally
invite every student to come out to a RUSA meeting to voice their
concerns about the University. Tonight’s meeting will be a Town
Hall with President Richard L. McCormick. RUSA is giving students a
rare opportunity to address their president directly and ask
questions about any issue they have on campus. I personally feel
this meeting will be time well spent and beneficial to every
student that comes out, even if they do not want to ask a
question.

Aside from the author’s recounting of a fellow representative
calling the meetings “a waste of time,” he went on to say that RUSA
was a “useless body because it has no purpose to fill.” I
understand the mission statement was not easily accessible on our
website, and that is something we will improve upon. But when one
looks at this statement, one sees that RUSA is fulfilling its
purpose.

Representation by the governing councils of the University on RUSA
allows a full range of diverse opinion to better serve the
University student body. In addition, the two bills just passed and
brought up in the piece are also examples of how RUSA represents
the student body. A bill was passed to eliminate plastic bags in
the dining halls. This bill passed unanimously and will now be
taken up by the University, Student and Legislative Affairs
committees to reach out to Dinning Services and resolve the issue
of plastic bags in the dining halls. The bill condemning action by
the New Brunswick Police Department shows RUSA’s support for the
New Brunswick community and was covered by the Targum for its
overall student support. These are just two examples of the bills
RUSA passed this year.

Not only does RUSA serve University students, but we also empower
students through major events like tonight’s McCormick Town Hall
and last year’s “Walk into Action.” Hundreds of people attended the
“Walk into Action” rally on Voorhees Mall on the College Avenue
campus where speakers talked about rising tuition at a public
university. Speakers included former RUSA President Yousef Saleh,
current RUSA President Matt Cordeiro and Vice President-Elect
Thomas Nicholas. This event — along with the subsequent talks with
administrative heads like McCormick, former Executive Vice
President for Academic Affairs Philip J. Furmanski and Vice
President for Student Affairs Gregory S. Blimling — allowed
students to have a summer memorandum on transcript fees. I submit
this event was in the minds of the Board of Governors when they
decided to enact the lowest tuition increase in 20 years: 1.8
percent.

As you can see, RUSA fulfills its mission. It is disheartening to
see any student, such as the author of yesterday’s letter, who has
gotten the wrong impression. We always look to improve our
operations and welcome students to come out to meetings, especially
tonight’s Town Hall with McCormick. For any questions you may have,
please contact rusa.assembly@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter
@RUAssembly.

Joseph Cashin is a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore majoring
in English with minors in history and political science. He is the
RUSA corresponding secretary.